I. Let me state the conclusion upfront: There’s no “standard answer”—only “scenario-specific lifespan.”

Inflatable casters don't have a "rated lifespan in hours" like light bulbs do; instead, their end-of-life point is determined by the combined pull of four hidden threads:

1. Application scenarios (ground roughness, slope, temperature and humidity, ultraviolet radiation, chemicals, whether or not involving water)

2. Load spectrum (average load, peak impact, whether the tire has been subjected to prolonged static pressure)

3. Material System (rubber compound, number of ply layers, corrosion resistance grade of the frame, bearing sealing type)

4. Maintenance schedule (tire pressure, dynamic balancing, bearing lubrication, tightening torque, storage position)

Therefore, rather than asking “How many years can it last?”, it’s better to ask, “Under my specific operating conditions, how long is it likely to last?” The following section breaks down the concept of “likely” into three distinct scenarios—civilian, industrial, and heavy-duty—and provides a checklist of replicable actions for extending service life.

II. Quick Reference Table for “Scene Lifespan” in Three-Stage Format

1. Lightweight civilian model

Structure: Natural rubber inflatable tire + 2.5 mm cold-rolled steel bracket; single-wheel rated load ≤ 100 kg

Typical operating condition A: Indoor smooth floor tiles, 23°C ambient temperature, occasionally pushing flower seedlings weighing 60 kg.

Service life: 12–24 months; replace when tread wear reaches ≤ 1.5 mm.

Typical operating condition B: Camping on a gravel road in the suburbs on the weekend, with a total mileage of 150 km and tire pressure fluctuating unpredictably.

Estimated service life: 6–9 months; the primary failure modes are sidewall bulging or carcass ply rupture.

2. Mid-sized industrial model

Structure: Thickened rubber or PU composite tire + galvanized 3 mm support, single-wheel load capacity 100–300 kg.

Typical operating condition A: Epoxy self-leveling workshop, daily travel distance of 3 km, payload of 200 kg, no emergency braking.

Estimated service life: 30–36 months; the first sign of failure is often abnormal bearing noise (due to dried-up lubrication).

Typical operating condition B: Workshop in the morning, open-air loading and unloading platform in the afternoon, temperature difference of 20 ℃, occasional contact with iron chips.

Estimated lifespan: 18–24 months, with tread cuts and UV cracking occurring simultaneously.

3. Heavy-duty industrial model

Structure: Wear-resistant and aging-resistant rubber compound (NR/BR + carbon black modification) + 5 mm cast steel bracket, single wheel capacity ≥ 300 kg.

Typical operating condition A: Intelligent warehousing, automated guided vehicles, constant speed of 4 km/h, weekly tire pressure inspection, monthly lubrication.

Estimated service life: 60 months+, common failure mode is tread wear-out (remaining tread depth of 1 mm).

Typical Operating Condition B: Open-air sheet material plant, 20% overload, frequent sharp turns, and standing water after rain.

Estimated service life: 24–30 months, due to delamination of the tire body + fatigue failure of the stent weld seams.

III. The “Invisible Driver” Behind the Life Curve

1. Tire Pressure—The “Index Knob” of Lifespan

Experimental data: On the same tire tread, when the tire pressure is 20% below the nominal value, rolling resistance increases by 18%, the carcass flexural temperature rises by 12°C, and the tire’s service life is directly halved.

2. Ultraviolet—Rubber’s “Invisible Cutting Blade”

When parked outdoors for three months without any cover, the tread can develop ozone cracks as deep as 0.8 mm, entering the failure stage 30% earlier than expected.

3. Chemical Corrosion—“Slow Blowout”

Fertilizers, chlorine bleach, acetone, and other substances dripping onto the tire sidewall can cause the rubber’s tensile strength to drop by 40% within just 7 days—yet the exterior appearance remains intact, making it extremely easy to misjudge.

4. Long-term standing—“leveling effect”

After being fully loaded and left stationary for 2 weeks, the tire carcass develops permanent flat spots. At the moment of initial start-up, vibration increases significantly, the bearing experiences an impact load that is 2–3 times higher, and the service life is shortened by 15%.

IV. Replicable “30% Lifespan Extension” Practical SOP

Step 0 Pre-selection of Models

• There are metal shavings/nails on the ground → Choose 6 mm Kevlar cord fabric “puncture-resistant tire”

• Chemical workshop → Choose EPDM-modified adhesive + stainless steel bracket

• Winter—30℃ → Choose “low-temperature tires” with a cis BR content ≥ 40%

Step 1: Tire Pressure Calendarization

• Check with a digital gauge every 15 days; the deviation in the cold tire state should be ≤ 0.05 bar.

• Attach a “Tire Pressure-Load” reference chart to the vehicle; do not rely on visual inspection to determine whether tires are properly inflated.

Step 2 Bearing “Mild Lubrication”

• General lithium-based grease → Replenish 2 g (about 2 shots) every 3 months

• High temperature above 80 ℃ → Replace with PFPE fluorolubricant, reducing the replacement cycle to 1 month.

• Before replenishing lubricant, remove any residual grease to prevent “soap blocks” from clogging the sealing lip.

Step 3 Tread “5 seconds daily” visual inspection

• If cracks in the tread base ≥ 2 mm or local exposure of the cord ply is detected, immediately remove the tire from the production line.

• Use a plastic pry bar to remove embedded pebbles and iron filings; do not use a screwdriver to “pull out splinters while they’re still injured.”

Step 4: Store the “Three-Point Method”

• Release air to 50% of the nominal tire pressure to reduce the risk of flat spots.

• The wooden blocks supporting the frame should be 5 cm above the ground to prevent continuous pressure on the tires.

• Store in a dark room at 15–25 ℃, away from ozone sources (motors, fluorescent lamps).

Step 5 Annual “Physical Exam”

• Perform dynamic balancing: The deviation should be ≤ 10 g; otherwise, high-speed operation may cause “tire hopping” and accelerated wear.

• Magnetic particle inspection of bracket welds: Any cracks measuring 5 mm or more will result in immediate scrapping, effectively eliminating the double threat of “tire blowout plus bracket failure.”

V. Answers to Common Misconceptions

Q: Does switching to solid tires really solve the problem once and for all?

A: Solid tires don't require inflation, but they have 15–25% higher rolling resistance. Under the same operating conditions, the frame is prone to fatigue more quickly. Moreover, since there’s no tire pressure cushioning, impacts from the ground are directly transmitted to the loaded cargo, making precision instruments easily damaged.

Q: Can applying “self-sealing liquid” to tires extend their lifespan?

A: Nail holes ≤ 6 mm can be temporarily sealed to stop leaks, but since the self-sealing fluid contains ammonia, which is corrosive to metals, prolonged retention may cause rusting of the wheel rim. We recommend applying a permanent patch within 7 days.

Q: Will it break if I overload it just once?

A: An instantaneous overload of 50% won't immediately cause a tire blowout, but it will result in irreversible stretching of the tire carcass cords, reducing the tire's lifespan by approximately 10–15%. When the overload exceeds 100%, the probability of sidewall bulging increases exponentially.

Six, take away a “life expectancy quick calculation table.”

Operating Condition Code Description:

A = Indoor leveling, B = Outdoor hardening, C = Gravel/Slag, D = Chemicals, E = Long-term static placement

Load factor = Actual/Rated, Speed = km/h

VII. Final Thoughts

By breaking down “lifespan” into measurable actions, we can turn uncertainty into manageable costs.

Remember these three sentences:

1. Tire pressure is life—check it once every 15 days; it’s 100 times cheaper than replacing the tires.

2. Ultraviolet rays and chemicals are “silent killers”—most deadly when they’re invisible.

3. It’s safer to replace the strut before the tire reaches the end of its life—don’t wait until you experience “a flat tire plus a broken strut” before thinking about your annual inspection.

Just do it, and your inflatable casters will likely outperform the “upper limit” officially provided.